Aurora M. Denisch, 71, registered nurse

August 24, 2004

Aurora M. Denisch, a retired registered nurse and active churchwoman, died of respiratory failure Thursday at the Oak Crest Village retirement community in Parkville. She was 71 and formerly lived in Lutherville.

She was born Aurora Marilou Copeland in Miami and was raised there and in West Palm Beach, Fla. She was a 1955 graduate of the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and took psychiatric training at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Towson.

In 1956, she married Dr. David A. Denisch, a Baltimore dentist, and worked for several years as an obstetrical nurse at the old Hospital for Women of Maryland before joining her husband's dental practice. The couple divorced in 1978.

In 1983, Mrs. Denisch became a delivery room nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where she worked until retiring in 1990.

She enjoyed archaeology and was especially interested in ancient Egypt. She also liked visiting London and Italy and collecting Hummel figures. She was an excellent cook who was known for her Southern-style dishes, family members said.

Mrs. Denisch had been a member for 48 years and a deacon, trustee, Sunday school teacher and choir member at Central Presbyterian Church in Towson, where services were held yesterday.

She is survived by two sons, David A. Denisch Jr. of Baltimore and Philip A. Denisch of Towson; a daughter, Beth V. Denisch of Acton, Mass.; a brother, James Davis of Big Torch Key, Fla.; and three grandchildren.